By DARRIN STINEMAN
The Salina Journal

Salina city commissioners Alan Jilka and Monte Shadwick say there's a lot to like in the new plan to revitalize downtown businesses.

And, as downtown business owners, they sure hope it works.

"I think about a year ago we realized the current system just wasn't working," said Shadwick, owner of the Paramount Bar, 219 N. Santa Fe. "I've been a member of (the Business Improvement District) for 14 years now, and I've been on different committees and was president of (Salina Downtown Inc.) for one year, so I'm very aware of what they've done, and I think some positive things have happened.

"But I think we got to the point where the organization stagnated, and I don't think it was a value for anybody."

The five-member city commission voted unanimously at its last meeting to implement the new plan, which Progressive Urban Management Associates, Denver, prepared at a cost of $67,000 to the city. It calls for a change in the assessment rate structure for downtown businesses, and most will see substantial increases.

In addition, if the city accepts the plan, it would agree to subsidize the downtown group to the tune of $55,000 in 2003.

The Paramount's assessment, $62 this year, will be $106 next year and $133 in 2004 if the plan receives final approval from the city.

Jilka, owner of Alan's Furniture Galleries, 141 S. Santa Fe, said he believes the plan will be worth it. His assessment will increase from $850 to $1,000 next year and to $1,250 in 2004.

"Basically, I like the way the consultant got everyone involved in the process," said Jilka, who was one of numerous business owners interviewed for the PUMA study.

"They talked to everybody downtown. The biggest challenge for our downtown is that it's kind of a disparate group of business owners who don't necessarily have a lot in common except location. I think we all want to see an economically viable downtown, and we recognize it's kind of a cultural and historical center of the community.

"I think the timing was good, because I really think the Fox Theatre can be a tremendous economic engine and will greatly enhance a lot of other things that are going on."

The Fox, a former movie theater at the corner of Walnut and South Santa Fe, is being remodeled into a performing arts center and is scheduled to open next spring.

Jilka said he asked City Manager Dennis Kissinger if his voting on the downtown issue could be a conflict of interest, since he is a downtown business owner. Kissinger said it wasn't.

"There are no conflicts under state law for that type of thing," Kissinger said. "There are business people in the Legislature that vote on business issues all the time. It's no different than voting on water rates or sewer rates or property taxes. Everybody pays 'em."

*  Reporter Darrin Stineman can be reached at 823-6464, Ext. 139, or by e-mail at sjdstineman@saljournal.com.